Thumb-brake for fishing-reels



C. TI PFLUEGER.

THUMB BRAKE FOR FISHING HEELS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-6,1919.

1,379,692, I Patented May 311., 19211..

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. T. PFLUEGER.

THUMB BRAKE FOR FISHING REELS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1919.

Patented May 31, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, Cnarmis T. Prnnnonn, a citizen, of the United States, residin at on, in the county of Summit and tate of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thumb-Brakes for Fishing-Reels, of which specification.

This invention relates to fishing reel brakes, particularly to what are known as thumb brakes.

The ob'ect of the invention is to provlde a more e cient thumb brake than those now in use, and more specifically a thumb brake arranged to exert its pressure directly upon the spool of the reel rather than upon the fishing line being wound thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a thumb brake which embodies a braking member which in actlon may be wedged into position between the two curved heads of the reel spool, so that maximum braking efiect can be secured with mlnlmum efl'ort.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction of this kind which can be made and applied to fishing reels atlow cost, and which is not likely to get out of order in service.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation illustrating the application of one preferred embodiment of my invention to a fishing reel; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the braking member and a part of the spool, looking into the direction of the arrow A, Fig. 1; 'Fig. 3 is a detail plan view, partially broken out and in sectlon of the braking member. Figs. 4 and 5 are'views corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2 and illustratin another embodiment of the invention; i igs. 6 and 7 aresimilar views illustrating still another modification; and Figs. 8 and 9 are similar views representlng another modification.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the base plate of a'fishing reel, to Wit, the plate by means of which the reel is-attached to the fishing rod. The reel embodies the usual frame or cage comprising end plates or heads 2 solidly connected to each other by pillars. or rods 3. In said frame is rotatably mounted the spool consisting of a e m, ASBIGNQR, re a Spectflcation of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 8, 1919. serial No.

I hub 4 mounted the following is a 9, in the cavity or recess 1 j men.

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upon a shaft 5 and carrying two end heads 6 of the usual form, having convex or curved inner faces 7. The line is wound upon the spool hub between the heads 6 and may be understood to pay out to leave the reel when the s 001 tion of the arrow Fig. 1.

The brakeforming the subject matter of the present invention comprises a braking member 8 held securely, such as by rivets of a backing plate 1Q hav ng one edge portion bent or otherwise formed as a sleeve 11 surrounding one of the p llars 3, said sleeve being also provlded with an outwardly extending thumb portion or car 12 which may be roughened if desired. The braking member 8 may be made of any suitable material, such as leather, wood, or any other friction producing substance which will not 'injure the hollow metal surface of the spool head. Said braking member is rigidly supported except where it projects from the ends of the backing plate 10, as illustrated in Fig. 2 and its exposed end edges are adapted to contact with the curved faces 7 of the spool heads to exert the braking pressure. This arrangement avoids any possibility of contact of the backing member with the spool heads because of wear on the braking member and also provides slight yield or fiexibility of the exposed end. portions of the braking member, which therefore readily accommodates itself to the curved spool heads.

In use of the reel the brake normally hangs by gravity in the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1. If the line-is being paid out to fish the operator presses down upon the thumb piece 12 so as to turn the brake around the pillar 3 as an axis, and apply the braking member 8 with pressure to the spool heads. Since said spool heads are curved the braking member in efiect acts as a wedge, because it moves in between two converging surfaces. The efiective braking pressure thereby increases rapidly with lncrease of thumb pressure, also the brake is efiective upon the spool head at a polnt nearer to the axis of shaft 5 than the pillar 3, and as the rotates in the direcis completed the aararsn 1;, onto, a coaroaarron are 1,379,692

the plate 14 by the rivets 17. To the back of the plate 14 is secured a spring metal strip 18' whose end portion liesopposlte a recess or flattened portion 20 of the pillar 13. This brake is operated by'direct application of thumb pressure to the casing member 16, which turns the brake in the clockwise direction Fig. 4 and advances the braking member into wedging relation between the spool heads, as before stated. During this motion the end portion 19 of the spring rides over the flattened portion 20 of the pillar of the circumference-or outer surface of said pillar and is thereby placed under tension. The tension of this spring therefore always tends to release the brake when the thumb is removed therefrom.

In the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the braking member 21 is inclosed in a casing carried by a plate 22 having arms 23 provided with sleeve portions 24 surrounding two of the pillars 3. Plate, 22 is of yieldingor spring metal so that the brake can be pressed. inwardly into braking relation with the spool heads, just as before and the resiliency of brake 22 retracts the brake to: its initial position with its exposed end portion out ofcontact with the spool heads.

In the form shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the braking member 25 is a wooden member carried by the plate 26 having a sleeve portion 27 surrounding a pillar 3. This brake is also provided with a spring 28 whose end portion rides upon a flattened portion 29 of the illar to retract the brake when desired.

at I claim is The combinationwith the frame of a fishing reel and the rotating spool thereof, of a movable brake carried by said frame and adapted to be moved into braking engagement with the exposed surface of said spool, said brake having a rigid backing member which at its ends terminates short of the spool heads, and a braking member of friction material rigidly supported by said backing member and projecting beyond the ends thereof and adapted to be moved into wedging relation between the spool heads.

In testimon whereof I aifix my signature.

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